Shido listened to Kotori's analysis and suggestions, his mind racing, considering how to maximize the "human flavor" in the next round.
"Perhaps... I could make the 'Tonjiru' that Mom used to make often? Stewing miso and root vegetables for a long time makes the flavor very deep... Or, try controlling the caramelization level of the teriyaki sauce..."
As he spoke, he unconsciously raised his head, his gaze unknowingly sweeping across the huge glass window and towards Phoenix-in Chinatsu's waiting room opposite.
He had only caught a glimpse before, but now he saw it more clearly.
In the waiting room across the way, Chinatsu was alone. She did not have companions like Shido to discuss tactics with.
She wasn't even sitting up straight; instead, she was leaning slightly back against the chair, appearing somewhat relaxed, or perhaps... exhausted.
Her head was tilted slightly back, the back of her head resting against the wall, her ice-blue long hair falling somewhat messily.
From this angle, Shido could see that her eyes were closed, her long lashes casting a small shadow beneath them, and her chest rising and falling slightly with her breathing, the frequency seemingly a little faster than usual.
On her smooth forehead, a layer of fine, reflective sweat beads seemed visible. One of her hands rested casually on the armrest, her fingers unconsciously curling slightly.
(She... is all alone...)
A classic scene from a professional e-sports match instantly flashed through Shido's mind:
The losing side had their teammates and coaches flooding into the small, soundproof competition room, surrounding them to eagerly discuss, review, and encourage; yet the winning side could only sit alone in the room opposite, quietly drinking water, staring at the screen by herself, and independently considering how to counter all the tactics the opponent might use next.
At this moment, he felt like the player surrounded by a team, while Chinatsu across the way was the lone champion, fighting by herself, having only herself to rely on.
"...So, Brother, I think we should focus on the'secret' part of the sauce, maybe adding a little bit of your special..." Kotori was still enthusiastically sharing her ideas, but Shido could barely hear her anymore.
His gaze was firmly drawn to that solitary figure across the way.
The noisy trio, the lively audience, his sister and Reine offering advice beside him.
All sounds seemed to gradually fade away. His world now only contained the girl across the glass window, who was taking a moment to breathe, recover her energy, and prepare to face the next fierce battle alone during the brief rest period.
(She looks... so tired. She was acting so effortlessly just now, like a precise machine... Does she also sweat and pant?)
(Even without our help, relying on her extraordinary abilities, she should—no, she definitely could live very well in human society, perhaps even better than most people.)
(She went to great lengths to disguise herself as a transfer student, playing the role of 'Phoenix-in Chinatsu'... Could she have already given her absolute all just to barely maintain this 'ordinariness'?)
(And what we are trying to do now is forcibly strip away this protective shell of hers...)
A subtle mix of pity, guilt, and confusion quietly spread through Shido's heart.
"Brother? Brother!" Kotori had been talking for a while and realized Shido wasn't reacting at all, merely staring blankly out the window.
Puzzled, she followed Shido's gaze and also saw Chinatsu's somewhat fragile and lonely figure in the waiting room across the way.
Kotori fell silent for a moment. Intelligent as she was, she immediately understood her brother's complex state of mind.
She sighed softly, walked over to Shido, and led him to the window. Standing together before the glass, they looked at the girl in the room opposite. Her tone was no longer as combative as before, but held a hint of composure and Understanding.
"Shido," she said softly.
"What you see might be true. She might be very tired, very lonely, and perhaps she's already exhausted herself just trying to survive."
Shido slowly turned his head to look at his sister, confusion in his eyes: "Kotori... Are we really doing the right thing?"
Kotori's gaze became resolute. She looked directly into Shido's eyes and spoke clearly, word by word:
"Listen, Shido. Your doubt is normal. However, one thing will not change—as long as she holds the power of a Spirit within her, and as long as her identity remains'Spirit,' human society will never truly be able to accommodate her."
"The AST's detectors won't care if she's a good cook or a good student. The moment her Reiryoku fluctuation exceeds the threshold, or her identity is exposed."
"She will only be met with merciless overwhelming firepower. This has nothing to do with her personal wishes or whether she is good or bad."
"Our goal has never been to harm her, but to'save' her. And the only method proven effective so far is sealing her Reiryoku, reducing her power to a level that current equipment cannot detect."
Kotori placed her hand on Shido's shoulder, conveying strength. "Therefore, Shido, your power, your actions, are the key."
"Making her open her heart to you, making her 'fall in love' with you, and then sealing her power—this isn't hurting her; this is giving her a chance to truly 'live' and not just 'hide'."
"This is the only thing we, Ratatoskr, can offer, and it is the path we must take."
As Shido listened to Kotori's words, the confusion in his eyes was gradually replaced by a heavy sense of responsibility.
He looked again at the solitary figure across the way. His feelings were still complex, but his direction was now clear.
(Saving her...?)
He took a deep breath, nodded, and his gaze became resolute once more.
"I Understand, Kotori. I will... continue to try my best."
The warning bell for the second round sounded right on time. The brief rest period was over, and a more intense battle was about to begin.
And in Shido's heart, something heavier than victory or defeat had already taken root.